Culture: "Best of" Lists

This epic playlist features a thousand essential recordings that every person with an ear should hear. Suffice it to say, this playlist has a bit of everything.

In 2009, critics at the UK newspaper The Guardian compiled a list of 1000 songs everyone must hear. This playlist is comprised of those songs and has a distinctly British flavour.

According to AOL.com, these are the worst songs of all time. Admittedly, we have a soft spot for a lot of these songs, but some of them are truly bad.

Listen to the best songs of 2012, as selected by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.com.

Songza's favorite songs released in 2011, as chosen by our music experts and Songza users.

The best songs of 2011, as chosen by the editors of Amazon. Download the full list at http://amazon.com/mp3

Listen to selections from the 100 best live albums of all time list, as chosen by Amazon.com's music editors.

The editors of Amazon.com compiled a genre-spanning list of the 100 most romantic albums of all time. So, uncork that bottle of red and grab two glasses; this playlist will go on all evening and late into the night.

Listen to the the 50 most popular rap songs of 2011.

The best rap songs of 2011, as selected by the rap music blog Cocaine Blunts.

Selections from Gorilla vs. Bear's favorite releases of 2011. See the full list at http://gorillavsbear.net

Songs from the best albums of 2011, as chosen by NPR.

"A scattering of music that meant something to me, some of which may be weird, personal, unimportant, or not-for-everyone." Nitsuh Abebe, NYMag

The best songs of 2011, as chosen by PrettyMuchAmazing.com.

Songs from Stereogum's favorite albums released in 2011, "the year music learned to float." Stereogum.com

The 50 best albums of 2011, as chosen by the editors and contributors of Rolling Stone Magazine.

Listen to the the 100 most popular songs of 2011.

According to the listeners of Jazz24.org, these are the 100 greatest jazz songs of all time.

Songs from the best albums of 2010, as selected by the music blog Stereogum.

The best rap songs of 2010, as selected by the rap music blog Cocaine Blunts.

Here's how Esquire.com described their list of 2010's best songs: "From country to Clipse and everything in between, discover new music that will make you feel better in 2010."

Songs from the best albums of 2010, as selected by the music blog Gorilla vs. Bear.

Here's how SPIN summarized music in 2010: "All that glitters is not gold. But we can all agree: All that glitters is fabulous. As was 2010."

Said the Gramophone is one of the oldest music blogs, and they're good at two things: finding good songs and writing about them. This playlist is comprised of some of their favorite songs from 2005-2010.

Here's how Rolling Stone summarized music in 2010: "Eminem got sober, Arcade Fire got spooked, Katy Perry flashed her hits, and Kanye sang one for jerk-offs everywhere."

In 2002, the editors of Rolling Stone magazine picked the 50 "coolest" albums of all time; here are the best cuts from those albums.

"Rolling Stone's list of the decade's 100 best songs includes garage rock revivalists, dance-happy indie, sassy starlets, slick modern R&B, boundary-shattering pop hybrids and a few familiar icons from previous eras." - Rolling Stone

"This is what makes a great rock & roll guitar sound: an irresistible riff; a solo or jam that takes you higher every time you hear it; the final power chord that pins you to the wall and makes you hit 'play' again and again." -Rolling Stone

The 100 best albums of the '90s, as chosen by the editors and contributors of Rolling Stone Magazine.

In 2008, Rolling Stone published a list of the greatest singers of all time; this playlist has key tracks from each and every one of them. They're not all technical masters, but these singers are the most emotive, expressive, and iconic ever.

In 2004, Rolling Stone published their list of the greatest songs of all time. Here they are.

The top 50 singles of 2005, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 50 singles of 2004, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 50 singles of 2003, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The best songs released in 2011, as chosen by the editors and contributors of Pitchfork.com

The Top 100 songs of 2010, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 100 songs of 2009, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 100 songs of 2008, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 100 songs of 2007, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The top 100 songs of 2006, as chosen by the writers and contributors of Pitchfork.

The 100 best albums of the '70s, as chosen by the editors and contributors of Pitchfork.com